New optical techniques for non-destructive sensing and monitoring

The University of Manchester

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Technical paints provide essential corrosion protection to our infrastructure, which is vital to ensure public safety and drive down the unacceptable economic and carbon cost associated with the replacement of metals. Corrosion engineers continually strive to improve the performance lifetime of these systems, however for on-site maintenance, the detection of corrosion onset beneath industrial coatings remains an issue.

In Manchester, initial work with advanced infrared microscopy has shown that the buried substrate and substrate/polymer interface can be probed rapidly, reliably and non-destructively using infrared reflectance. Preliminary modelling work has suggested applicability in situations highly relevant to the early detection of corrosion for predictive and preventative maintenance, including: the earliest stages of substrate corrosion, blisters / debonding / delamination of coatings, bulk water ingress or changes to water uptake.

This PhD project will extend this approach to non-destructive optical techniques suited for mobile sensing devices, for example: SORS (spatially offset Raman spectroscopy) technology already applied in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries to “see through” packaging; the hyperspectral infrared reflectance techniques used in art conservation; handheld IR devices used for preventative maintenance in the aircraft industry. The student will develop new methods to study coatings, using advanced laboratory-based optical spectroscopies, including data processing and modelling pipelines; and adapt these techniques to be applicable “in the field”. This project will suit a student with an interest in materials characterisation and with a background in chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering, polymer science, corrosion science or related disciplines.

The project will be based at the University of Manchester in the Department of Materials – Metallurgy and Corrosion, where over the past decade, specialised tools have been developed in close partnership with AkzoNobel (Europe’s largest paint company) to explore the fundamental phenomena underpinning the performance of corrosion protective coatings from the aerospace, marine and packaging sectors. The Ph.D. student will be embedded in a dynamic research environment located in the new Engineering building, with unrivalled access to facilities including purpose built state-of-the-art corrosion laboratories, electron and scanning probe microscopy suites, and extensive polymer and surface characterisation capabilities.

Eligibility

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

Funding

At Manchester we offer a range of scholarships, studentships and awards at university, faculty and department level, to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers applying for competition and self-funded projects.

For more information, visit our funding page or search our funding database for specific scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply.

How to apply

Apply online through our website: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-fap

When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your supervisor, if you already having funding or if you wish to be considered for available funding through the university, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees.

Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

After you have applied you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents:

  • Final Transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications
  • Interim Transcript of any university level qualifications in progress
  • CV
  • Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research and why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed. (This is mandatory for all applicants and the application will be put on hold without it).
  • Contact details for two referees (please make sure that the contact email you provide is an official university/work email address as we may need to verify the reference)
  • English Language certificate (if applicable)

If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing .

Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact.

We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.

We also support applications from those returning from a career break or other roles. We consider offering flexible study arrangements (including part-time: 50%, 60% or 80%, depending on the project/funder).

To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your email – cover/motivation letter where (nearmejobs.eu) you saw this posting.

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